Fantasy Football 2013: Week 1 Mailbag

By Adam Pfeifer

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve been waiting what seems like forever to say this…

Week 1 of the 2013 NFL season is here.

And with the return of football comes to long-awaited return of the greatest game of all, fantasy football. Owners have the majority of their drafts completed, but now they must set their lineups for the week’s action. So, I took to the Twitter world and gathered up a handful of lineup questions that needed answering. It’s back, folks. The Mailbag is back.

Q: Tight end to start; Olsen or Zudfeld? (Mr. Devlin)

AP: Olsen has a killer matchup this week against the Seahawks, who surrendered only two catches for 37 yards from him last season. Quarterback Cam Newton looked lost in that contest, and because of the vicious Seattle defense, Olsen may actually be called upon to do more blocking than pass-catching. As for Sudfeld, I have him as a top-10 guy this week among tight ends. Patriots tight ends have dominated the Bills defense over the years, and if you consider that this secondary will be without Stephon Gilmore and possibly Jairus Byrd, as well as the fact that Tom Brady has thrown 51 touchdowns and just 17 interceptions in his career against the Bills, I like Sufeld’s upside over Olsen this week.

Q: EJ Manuel or Andy Dalton as my QB2? (Rob Berretta)

AP: This one is tough because I love both of these guys this year, but I can’t ignore Dalton’s opposition this week. That nasty Bears secondary allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing signal callers last season, and also led the league in interceptions with 24. I love Dalton’s weapons, but I think Manuel has more upside and a better shot at producing as a starting fantasy quarterback this week. The Patriots defense gives up a ton of big plays, and during their last four games against the Patriots, Buffalo is averaging 28.5 points per contest. Keep in mind, that was with much worse weapons on offense. Manuel will have to throw the ball a ton to keep up with Brady and company, and even Ryan Fitzpatrick has put up serviceable fantasy outings against this defense in the past.\

Q: Start Randall Cobb or Antonio Brown? (Rasmus Andersen)

AP: While I love Brown this week, as well as for the season, I would feel pretty crumby to bench a guy like Cobb. If we goes off (which he is more than capable of), you’ll feel much worse with him on your bench than you would with Brown. Sure, the matchup against the 49ers is difficult, but last season, Cobb’s coming-out party was against this unit, where he caught nine balls for 77 yards. I think this game will be a shootout because both times these two played last season, over 50 total points were scored. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers thinks the world of Cobb, and I see him getting targeted all day long.

Q: Brian Hartline, Lance Moore, Kenny Britt. Sit 1. (Shawn Feris)

AP: I am 100 percent starting Moore. Has seven catches in each of the last two games against the Falcons, and Drew Brees has a ton of faith in him. That game could be a 42-38 type game. As for the other two, I think I would sit Hartline. It isn’t so much of a knock against him, but I just feel like Britt is too talented of a player to bench when healthy. Well, despite ailing with a swollen knee, Britt will play Sunday against Pittsburgh, a team he caught four balls for 62 yards and a score against last year.